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(No Model.) I E. B. UUTTEN.

APPARATUS FOR ELEOTROLYTIUALLY PRODUCING SODA AND GHLORINE, No. 510,900.Patented Deal-9, 1893.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELISHA BARTON CUTTEN, NEW YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS FOR ELECTROLYTI CALLY PRODUCING SODA AND CHLORINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 510,900, dated December19, 1893.

Application filed March 30, 1893. Serial No. 463,283- (No model.)

' have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus forElectrolytically Producing Soda and Chlorine, of which the following isa specification.

In Letters Patent No. 91,700, granted to me February 14, 1893, I havefully described my method of electrolytically producing caustic soda andchlorine, which, briefly described, consists in electrolyzing an aqueoussolution of sodium chloride to produce chlorine and .soda, withdrawingthe chlorine from the body of the solution and allowing the soda toaccumulate, by its own gravity, at the bottom of the containing vessel.

My present invention is an improved form v of apparatus for carryingthis method into practical effect, more conveniently and economically;and my invention consists in the construction and arrangementof suchapparatus as hereinafter more particularly described and set forth intheclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of myimproved apparatus, on the line 1, 1 of Fig. 2, and Fig.2 is ahorizontal section on the line 2, 2 of Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

A is the containing vessel, which is of iron. On the outside of thevessel A and near the upper edge thereof, is a flanged collar, B, whichserves as a support for the brackets O. The brackets 0 support the bellD. This bell is made of earthenware, and may be constructed in sections,E and F, jointed together, as shown. The upper end of the bell is closedby a dome, G, with which communicatesthe outlet pipe H for the chlorine.With the outlet pipe H is connected any suitable form of pump orexhauster; also in the dome H is the tubular opening I, surrounded bythe circular flange J. In the annular space formed between the tubularopening .I and the flange J is disposed the lower edge of the smallbell'orcylinder K, which serves as a cover for the opening I. The spaceinside the flange J is filled with water so as to seal the joint betweenthe cylinder K and the pump G. The object of the tubular opening I is toallow brine to be conveniently introduced into the apparatus,

for which purpose the cylinder or cover K is of course removed.

In the bottom of the vessel A is an opening, M, communicating with anoutlet pipe. Above this opening and covering the bottom of the cell, isa layer of wire netting or gauze, N, above which rests a steel plate, 0.On this steel plate is placed a support, P, in the shape of the frustumof a cone and made of earthenware. Above the support P is a flangeddisk, Q, the flanges resting upon the upper surface of the earthen waresupport P. The flanged disk Q is also of earthenware. It has anaperturein its flange, in which enters an earthenware pipe, R, whichpipe extends through the wall of ves} sel A. The entire space betweenthe flanged disk Q and the support P, and also the interior of the pipeR, is filled with an insulating material, preferably a mixture ofparaffine and gutta-percha. In the disk Q is a number of openings, aboveeach of which is vertically disposed a bar, S, of gas carbon. The bars Sare supported on the disk Q by means of pins,

T, also of carbon, which are inserted in the R. The carbon bars S aretherefore at the anodes of the cell. The vessel A is at the cathode andis connected to the other terminal of the source of current by means ofthe binding-post V.

The operation of the apparatus, in accordance'with my method set forthin my Patent No. 491,700, already referred to, is as follows: The vesselA being filled with an aqueous solution of sodium chloride above thelevel of the lower edge of the bellD, current is established and theexhauster orpump communicating withthe pipe H is set in operation. Theliquid is then electrolyzed, chlorine being produced at the anodes,which is drawn out of the liquid in gaseous form through pipe H by meansof the pump or exhauster. The

caustic soda, also produced by the electrolysis forms at the inner orcathode surface of the vessel A, and descends, by its own gravity, alongthe sides thereof, filters through thewi re gauze N, and finally escapesat the pipe M.

The construction of the anode herein set forth is fully described andclaimed in another application for Letters Patent filed by me March 28,1893, Serial No. $67,926.

I claim- 1. In an apparatus for the electrolysis of salt solutions andin combination with the containing vessel A forming the cathode, andhaving the outlet M, a body, N, of wire netting, gauze, or similarmaterial on the bottom of said vessel, and resting upon said bod y N, asupport, Q, of insulating material and two or more vertical carbonanodes, S, held by said support, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus for the electrolysis of salt solutions, thecombination of the flanged disk Q of insulating material, the verticalcarbon anodes S supported thereon and the carbon pins T entering saidanodes and also apertures in said disk, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus for the electrolysis of salt solutions, thecombination of the containing vessel A having the outlet M, the metallicplate 0 supported above the bottom of said vessel, the support P Q ofinsulated material on said plate 0, the vertical carbon anodes S held onthe upper side of said support, and a chamber, U, within said supportinclosing the leading-in wires to said anodes and filled with paraffineor equivalent insulating material, substantially as described.

4. In an apparatus for the electrolysis of salt solutions, thecombination of the containing vessel A forming the cathode having theoutlet M, the bell-shaped vessel D made in two or more sections, as Eand F, and provided with the outlet H, the brackets G supporting saidvessel ID, and the anode S supported within said vessel A, substantiallyas described. k

5. In an apparatus for the electrolysis of salt solutions, thecombination of the cathode vessel A having the flanged supporting ringB, brackets, C, resting upon said ring B, bell D composed of two or morejointed sections, as E, F, supported by said brackets O and providedwith a dome, G, having openings, II and I, and anodes, S, supportedwithin said vessel A, substantially as described.

ELISHA BARTON OUTTEN.

Witnesses:

H. R. MOLLER, M. Boson.

